Commissioners
approve two questions for November ballot

Sept. 8, 2017 – The Eagle County Board of Commissioners has
approved two questions for the Nov. 7 ballot. Topics include new sales and
excise taxes on recreational marijuana, and reestablishing the county’s ability
to provide cable television services, telecommunications services and
high-speed internet services.

On Tuesday (9/5), the commissioners approved ballot language
that asks voters for permission to opt out of a state law which prohibits the
use of public money to provide or improve access to high-speed internet and
other telecommunications services, either on their own or through partnerships.
The ballot question would not prevent any private business, including existing
broadband providers, from initiating or continuing to provide these services. The
towns of Avon, Eagle, Gypsum, Minturn and Vail are asking voters to approve
similar measures.

At a special meeting today (9/8), the board approved ballot
language asking voters to authorize new sales and excise taxes of up to 5
percent each on recreational marijuana, for the purpose of funding mental
health and substance abuse services. In order to help the marijuana industry
absorb the proposed taxes, the county intends to set the collection rate at 2.5
percent in 2018 with future annual increases of .5 percent each year thereafter
until the 5 percent limit is achieved in 2024.

The resolutions and ballot language can be found in their
entirety below. Past commissioner meetings can be viewed on demand at www.ecgtv.com.